At Least One Suspect, Two Police Killed in Tijuana Shoot-Out

Audio

Aired 4/19/09

The series of shoot-outs between police and heavily armed men has left three other people injured and led to a temporary evacuation of a hospital.

KPBS reporter Amy Isackson says the series of incidents began just before noon when police tangled with men on a busy street downtown. One of the wounded men was taken to Tijuana General Hospital. That's where another shoot-out ensued as six to eight armed men entered the hospital -- presumably to get at the wounded person.

One man was shot and killed in the first incident. Two state policemen were killed in the second.

The band of gunmen apparently fled the hospital this afternoon with 30 armed policemen in pursuit.

A local news agency reported there may have been hostages taken in the hospital. But our KPBS reporter has not confirmed that.